Elder Parker Wilson: Week 7 Ecuador

Hola mis panas!

Another week at work, much has stayed the same. Surely a few small suprises though. I got to buy some sugar cane and try it out, it is pretty good, though I can't say it beats Wonka or Hershey's.. Amongst the normal Lizards and birds I ran into my first cockroaches while helping a family move some furniture - Huge! They explode pretty good too when you step on them. The winner this week however, has to go to my friend Pulio. While at a less actives home teaching a lesson all was going grand> mom is breast-feeding the 18 month child, and the 2 year old is naked handing out mangos with a puppy nipping at him - nothing out of the ordinary. Following, in an attempt to pick up a fumbled mango the child Diahrrea's everywhere including my right shoe!!! I made a quick recovery from the initial shock, washed myself, and laughed pretty hard. That lesson had ended abruptly... Otherwise, nothing too great to report. Had a whole fish again and watched a woman eat the head and all! She assured me to my great releif I did not have to though.

My companion is the new District Leader. Thus, in my evening hour 'learning' from him while he takes calls I jotted down some ideas I'll share.

I have known it all my life, recited it since my youth, my greatest enemy is myself. When we study it out we all find that our greatest challenges do not face us on a wrestling mat or a football field, they are not found in the choices of others from which we are affected or the trials we are destined to face in mortality. Ancient prophets knew this well as they counceled in [Ephesians 6:12] "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities." Applicable to any goal, the greatest obstacle we must overcome in order to obtain it is ourselves. To be what we are capable of becoming in this life as well as in what will follow we must do as King Benjamin taught and conquer the "Natural Man." [Mosiah 3]

Our Heavenly Father gives us weakness that we "may be humble" sufficient enough to turn to Him for help. Thanks to the grace and Atonement of our Savior we are able to learn through this process, make changes in ourselves, and become perfect like Him. I have, up to this present time, fallen short of athletic goals, academic expectations, and even the standards of my God. I can speak for all in saying the learning process that follows is largely humbling. Nevertheless, I am grateful for these times of improvement. As we look upon our trials as times of self-growth and turn to our Lord in Faith and humility we retain His promise that Ï will make weak things become strong unto them." [Ether 12:27] I am experiencing, learning, and growing continually in the mission as I strive to be a representative of Christ and will always treasure the words of our Prophet Thomas S Monson, "Let us make the resolution to do things a little better than in the past."

I like that, "little better." I have been reflecting lately on the "Simple things." Things such as our daily decisions to pray, read the scriptures, our conduct with others.. We are required to improve our time in this life, but these changes do not take place over-night. Examples are limitless which stem from the principle, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."I believe all can recognize the validity of the statement as we seek to apply it. I have experienced first-hand how by "small means," an 18 year old with broken spanish, the Lord "bringeth about the Salvation of many souls." To obtain a Doctorates degree you do your homework tonight, to be a professional swimmer you jump in the water, to receive eternal life you begin with a prayer. Simple, right?

I'm a fan of strategy games, namely checkers and chess [or dominoes, a family favorite]. I'll venture to admit I was in a club amongst other nerds who shared this interest, one of the only clubs I've ever joined.. Ha! In these games every move counts as you progressivley bring about your triumph, or destruction. Victory is wrought one move, one choice, at a time. It's not all so different in life. No one wakes up and says today I want to destroy my relationship with a family member or friend, or disqualify myself of the blessings of the Holy Ghost or Temple. Yet throughout our daily decisions we so often do just that. We've heard it time and time again, certainly for the cause that it might echo in our minds and influence the better when we face those "gut-check" moments, Remember which team you're on, who you're fighting for, who you are and what you stand for.

Thanks mom, I think we got it. Hence, let us "ärise and be men." [2Nephi 1:21] Let us be "steadfast and immovable." [Mosiah 5:15] Let us secure our lives upon "a sure foundation" [Hel 5:12] and go forth in our daily works prepared with "the whole armour of God." [Ephesians 6]

Let us remember the wise cousnel of our parents, prophets, and savior, who all share the utmost desire for our success. "Watch yourselves, and your thoughts and your words and your deeds.." [Mosiah 4:30] "Remember, and perish not" but rather, follow this pattern and obtain "peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come." [D&C 59]

Have a super-bien week everyone!
Elder Wilson

I don't know what it is but it's like the size of a Turkey!

Half torn down I'm not sure what? My companion picked that flower and gave it to me, regretted it because I wore it for the next hour and he was so bothered by that. I guess that is a pretty "gay" thing here. All of our members just laughed though:)